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Index > @ the Pickup Bed (General Topics) > Thread: I was talking to a guy at mazda DAG
Thread: I was talking to a guy at mazda DAG
straightrepu


Redlining
Posts: 232
posted February 27, 2003 08:35 PM

I was talking to a guy at mazda DAG

Dealer Advisory Group-about parts that have been archived. I
was told that if parts didn`t move out of inventory they were flagged for removal, I don`t know what the exact time is for their shelf life if there is no movement but a lot of parts have already been lost. You`ve seen me post available parts in the past and I will continue to do so in the hope that we can save as much as possible.
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74 restorepu

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nwaco


Redlining
Posts: 407
posted February 27, 2003 08:52 PM

And what about us??????

We are the CUSTOMERS!!! We are the people WITH the money who may choose to give some of it to the dealers who in turn give it to Mazda. We are the ones who make it all happen. Is there a group representing us?

It seems like the DAG's (the morons who try to preserve Dealers money) get it both ways, If parts don't move, they destroy them, and if they do, they empty the shelves and don't reorder? How about some of those DAG's asking us about which parts to stock and which parts to toss? It is my guess that they would just as soon clear out the inventory without reordering it. And if they do decide to destroy them, why don't the fucks just notify us to give us a chance to help preserve their history in auto manufacturing?

I suppose they would like us citizens to just destroy our extra clothes and food instead of giving it to shelters or charities?

Who are these DAG morons???? Off with their heads....

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nwaco


Redlining
Posts: 407
posted February 27, 2003 09:01 PM

And also.....

If those DAG's are doing their job correctly, What in Sam's Hell is with a "Coolant reservoir" doing outlasting a front lower valance? It seems to me that if they were in fact eliminating product that did not move, the parts in most demand would be the ones that we could still get...No?

Why is it that the parts we have left no person on earth still needs? Huh? A coolant reservoir? Door handles?

Wheres the valance, the fenders, the hood, the radio bezel, the grill pieces, the taillights, the carpet, etc...

I think Mazda needs to fire the Schmucks and get some of us to volunteer to give them some honest advice about who their customers are and what we need and want.

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted February 28, 2003 10:41 AM

Chill, bro...

At this point we won't gain anything by biting the 'hand' that feeds...no matter how wasteful and ironic...
Consider that the most unobtainable parts were likely sold out due to demand as crash/resto parts long ago, regardless of when what was crushed... and the irrelevant parts that remain just might cross over to more models, thereby prolonging their existence. Just some ideas; don't get me wrong, I totally commisserate with you and feel likewise in many respects... If wishes were REPU's...

       
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straightrepu


Redlining
Posts: 232
posted February 28, 2003 10:55 AM

bingo

Klaus you hit that nail square on the head. I don`t think any repu parts were produced after 77, what we have been buying all these years are parts that were made during the production run of our trucks.
I`m sorry that the parts available aren`t what you need, I`m
just trying to help those that may not be aware that some parts are still available. The guys at DAG merely provide
technical support to parts and service depts., they have nothing to do with inventory policy, that is handled on a higher level.
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nwaco


Redlining
Posts: 407
posted February 28, 2003 03:23 PM

Ok, I'll chill a bit, but....

I still think we are being stiffed. I question "what have they fed us lately"???

I believe these companies (Mazda and their handlers (Ford))have a responsibility to help respect those of us who buy their products and wish to honor their heritage. If they do not, then why should we even consider EVER buying any of their new products? If we were to choose to keep them for more than a few years, their actions speak that the parts will dry up in a few years and we will again be on our own.

Does anyone not think that Mazda could do a little customer charity work and maybe help some of us with some of these near impossible to find parts and throw us a bone? Maybe have a special run of some parts in a minute' symbolic gesture of respect by making a run of valances, grills, or maybe an engine part of two? They probably waste more value than that in mailed advertising to wrong addresses.

That would go a long way to insuring "customers for life" as I am sure they would like.

I'll chill a bit, but I won't let up on any company that is not willing to honor their previous customers by disconinuing "Key" parts for their earlier products.

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DPassmore


Hauling
Posts: 104
posted February 28, 2003 07:32 PM

Keep in mind that it's not as much the money they need as much as the space.They have to be able to keep the parts in stock for the 01,02,03's.The problem is the #'s of repu's produced in the first place (not very many).Look at the old camaros and mustangs anything you need can be had in reproduction parts.I think it's the fact that there were so many of them made and there are still many left on the road and being resto'd.The other problem is the fact that repu's lived a hard life and many didn't survive.Also the fact that not many people knew how to work on them.
That may be why mine was the way it was when I bought it.
It was a body with a trans and rear end...All Chevy that is.
That's why I had to have it.I got the best of both worlds.
I LOVE my truck just as much as any rotorhead in here...
____________
If someone with a split personality threatens suicide,is it a hostage situation?

       
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straightrepu


Redlining
Posts: 232
posted February 28, 2003 09:21 PM

lack of rotors

its cool bro, you do make a good point, we`re a low volumn, high interest? vehcle. In my opinion the best of the rotary combined, but we will get no help except that we give to each other. My truck has thousands of dollars of NOS parts, I`m willing to take off any part for reproduction purposes,
if it can benefit the rest of the of the remaining trucks on the road.

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74 restorepu

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted March 01, 2003 12:10 AM

Since when does ANY major manufacturer

EVER do a 'special run of parts' for a decades-old, let alone very limited production, model? Even the aftermarket for 'obsolete' or vintage/collector cars is focused 97% on those models that were widely collected... Trouble is, it's anything but big business to address the tiniest niche of the rotary 'cult', as we've been called... Look at where we're at even on getting courier stuff. It's getting damn hard to find! Sure, everyone could do more... but it's unrealistic to expect anything from any company anymore, especially in the absence of large quantities of cash. At least that's my pessimistic view of our dumbed-down to the lowest common denominator, overpopulated, greedy primate society. (And then there's some good people, too!)
"You gotta be crazy--gotta have a real need..."

       
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nwaco


Redlining
Posts: 407
posted March 01, 2003 09:29 AM

Ok...Ok....Uncle.....I give up...

Where was my head? Thank you all for redirecting me back to reality. I guess when I hear that they are clearing us out and tossing us to the streets, I get a little fuzzy upstairs.

I was thinking about this last night, and I guess I am part of the problem as well. I rebuild and sell RX7's to pay the bills for my hobby trucks, and I have tons of very good parts left over that I can't hardly give away, and am basically forced to throw away "future" rare parts adding to this very problem only a few short years away, abeit for another model.

And so it goes, let's face it, if they made all the parts that we needed, rebuilding a nice "rare" truck would not be nearly as rewarding.
So, I guess I have to conceed that all my lashing and anger was nothing more than a fit of frustration.

I humbly rejoin the ranks....

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roaddancer


Hauling
Posts: 127
posted March 01, 2003 02:33 PM

When I was shopping for misc. parts for my RX7 at the nearby dealer who happens to also be a Mopar/Jeep dealer, the parts guy mentioned that Mazda had far more parts available for old models than any other maker. Judging by what I have seen, that would be very true. Most makers stock parts fro less thatn ten years of models. If it is a part that is shared by many different models, it has a better shelf life, but interior trim, for instance, goes out of availability in as little as 5 yrs.
It's amazing that Mazda has any part for a REPU!
24 to 29 yr old very low production model...We should count ourselves as blessed.

       
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dhood


Hauling
Posts: 134
posted March 02, 2003 05:25 PM

Does anybody know how many REPUs are still left in the world? If Mazda doesn't do another REPU, then this number is all there is to work with. I'd be curious to track all the VIN's to see how big the parts market could be. Perhaps contacting some smaller parts makers with this kind of information could help with the business decisions.

For me, I would be very interested in getting ahold of complete kits for refurbishing various aspects of the truck, like kits that include all exterior body rubber parts, new headliners, window weather stripping that really fits, emblems, bushings, an assortment of new plastic and even some trick retrofit parts.

Things like this could make truck restorations for fun and profit a lot more feasible, like the company that was doing over early Datsun Z's. Maybe add a special design improvement that would give the product its own elite identity. It would be a great thing to get a stable of restorable trucks, do some production runs on the most needed parts and sell the surplus.

We're all so (rightfully) preoccupied with our own trucks and making and fixing the many different parts, that maybe we are overlooking the power of leveraging each other's experience and skills. There is probably enough expertise among the REPU enthusiasts here to start a small cottage industry, each person with a specialty interest making one different part.

If there was enough interest, I'd be happy to send all my cores and spare parts to each of the experts. For example, for one thing, I've gotten pretty good at fixing those pesky combo light switches on the steering column. What would you be especially good at? Would you do it as a labor of love or expect to make a decent part time wage?

But it all boils down to one question, what could a "new" 74 - 77 REPU sell for? Even if there were a large number of shell trucks, to attract the interest of the cash paying public, the whole effort has to be economically feasible. The price of these trucks has been going up in the last few years I've noticed. Maybe in a few more years, and without a new REPU from Mazda these trucks could sell for $5,000 easy. Even if there isn't mass market, maybe this could help us to get after market parts as higher prices justify the run.

This has been my 5 cents worth of dreaming. I'm going to spend some more time trying to find how many trucks are left.

       
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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted March 02, 2003 06:55 PM

With perhaps just over 15,000 ever built...

...it's a good guess how many actually survive, in any condition at all. I've long been curious myself... I'd guess there's a couple thousand sitting around still rotting/rusting away AT BEST, perhaps only a few hundred... with the few prime ones we do know of being a good percentage of the running/driving 'living' examples... Of course, I dream along! More than some of you with more time and money to spare on actual builds, I'll wager.
Of course I'd be happy to participate in a collective application of talent to the preservation of REPU's--but, you sure guessed it--we've all gotta earn a living, and getting paid for time and talent always helps! As far as making a business of REPU's, well... do you really want to restore 'em just to sell some of 'em to non-aficionados, in order to get thru the times when no caring rotorhead can come up with the cash? I'll guess top dollar on the market will be equal to the actual cost of restoration for some time to come, bearing in mind that everything continues to increase... just my (pessimistic) two cents. Don't let me kill the dream!

       
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dhood


Hauling
Posts: 134
posted March 03, 2003 10:01 AM

Well, its just a dream, not reality. Maybe some people who buy them would become afficiandos. I know several people who want one but can't find any they would want. My first was a basket case. For now, the trucks are the domain of the tinkerers and tinsmiths, it seems.

Anyway, when the new beetle came out, it didn't hurt sales of the older ones. I think it may have upped the prices some. With the RX-8 coming in June and at a new lowered price of $24K, I'm sure this will bring us some positive attention.

       
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